If you want a behavior to have a specific, carved out place in your life,set a specific cue for
it. Some examples include exercising on specific days,reading before bed, and writing in the
morning. Some people like to have their lives very structured, so they might choose only specific
cues. It's all up to preference. You can even choose a combination of "wild" and cued habits.
Decision-making In the Moment
Especially if you're choosing general mini habits,understanding the decision-making process will
help you to do them when necessary.
We have two states of mind when making a decision. First, we weigh our options, which is called
the deliberative mindset. Then we commit to act, which is called the implemental mindset.
The goal is to move to the implemental frame of mind(instead of getting stuck in the deliberative
frame of mind).
One advantage of cues is they cut out the deliberative process and help you get more quickly to
an implemental state of mind. This is highly appealing. Cues are the key factor in what's known
as implementation intentions, which are predetermined decisions of exactly when and how you'll
do something.Implementation intentions are known to improve goal success. A mini habit with a cue
has an even greater chance of success because it does not require much commitment. It's so small
that it's a "no brainer."
Mini habits can work without cues too,though; their minuscule size is what elevates them above
competing behaviors. So while you'd need to go through the deliberative process without having a
cue, you should not get stuck when trying to decide whether or not to do one push-up or write 50
words. It's too easy to think too hard about it. If you ever find yourself stalling, remind
yourself how small your task is.